John Byron Moore Jr.

John Byron Moore, Jr., was born in 1924 in Atlanta, GA, the son of John Byron Moore, Sr., a Pullman conductor and Marion Durrett Moore, a homemaker. He passed away on the 8th of October 2016 in Houston, TX. Byron graduated from Boys’ High School and the Draughon School of Commerce in Atlanta. He worked for six months for the John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. before entering military service. Byron served 2 ½ years with the 1072 Signal Co. running communications at the 12th Air Force Service Command Headquarters in Naples, Italy and for the 316 Service Group. Upon his discharge from military service, Byron enrolled at Emory University, graduating in 1953 with an AB degree and in 1954 with a Master’s degree, both in Geology. At Emory, he joined Sigma Nu fraternity. In 1951, Byron married Jean Joyce Epps, and she was a strong force in helping him during school years and for the rest of his life.

Upon graduation, Byron was employed by the Atlantic Refining Co., which later became Atlantic Richfield Co. He became senior Geologist and discovered North Tom Lyne Gas Field in Live Oak Co. and aided in the discovery of many other fields in the Wilcox Trend of South Texas. Byron worked 24 years for Atlantic before taking early retirement and joining Sanchez-O’Brien Oil & Gas Corp. He became Vice President of Exploration for West Texas, and discovered the Patterson Ranch Gas Field in Live Oak Co., TX. He participated in the discovery of many other oil and gas fields in South Texas and West Texas. After 7 years, he left Sanchez-O’Brien and formed a partnership with Peter Paul Groth, a landman, to develop and sell prospects. Due to the slow pace of the oil industry at that time, Byron retired in 1986 to pursue other investments, travel, and play golf.

Byron was a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, and a former member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was Senior Warden and Sunday School Superintendent. Byron was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and a Certified Geological Scientist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists. He was a member of the Houston Geological Society, the Corpus Christi Geological Society, TIPRO (Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners), and a longtime member of the University Club of Houston. Byron was a member of the Republican Party.

Byron was preceded in death by his younger brother, Marion Maurice “Bud” Moore. In addition to his wife, Jean, Byron is survived by a sister, Nancy Hester, of Tucker, Georgia; his daughter, Suzanne Moore; son, J. Byron “Skip” Moore III; and grandson, Chad Byron Moore, all of Houston; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins in the Atlanta area.

The family gathered for a private memorial service at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.